Teenager cleared of stepfather manslaughter
A mother who testified against her own son has been praised by a judge after he was cleared of the manslaughter of his stepfather.
Ina Herridge gave evidence at Maidstone Crown Court against her son Douglas, who denied the manslaughter of his squash champion stepfather in a row over pocket money.
Herridge, now 18, claimed he acted in self-defence when he punched the 6ft4in tall “gentle” Colin Payne, 54.
Judge Jeremy Carey said Mrs Herridge had been “stoic” and added: “What mother could possibly cope with a situation in which she has had to give evidence for the prosecution and the defendant is her natural child?”